E3 2011: Nintendo conference: Live blog

18:13: Attendees are told that they can go hands-on as soon as the conference is over. Our US reporter Scott Nichols is in the theatre right now, so expect impressions soon.

18:12: Reggie takes the stage once more. He says we should think about four platforms - DS, Wii, 3DS and Wii U.

18:11: He discusses online functionality - it seems that Nintendo will be more open about multiplayer, downloading content, and sharing it with social networks and mobiles. Nothing concrete announced, but it seems that one major third party is excited for Wii U.

18:11:Madden is shown, where strategies and plays can be prepared on the controller. Battlefield is also mentioned.

18:10: Electronic Arts CEO John Ricattelo is welcomed on stage. This is a "breakthrough in our relationship", and the first time he's appeared in person at a Nintendo conference.

18:09: Everything you see this week will be a "first pass", says Reggie, and things will look better at launch.

18:07: A few more for you; DiRT, Aliens: Colonial Marines, Metro: Last Light, Ninja Gaiden 3. In-game footage shows it easily comparable to Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Tekken will allow you to customise fighters by drawing on them - very cool!

18:03: However, announced is LEGO City Stories, which is in development by TT Games. It's an open-city filled with LEGO vehicles, and will be a 3DS and Wii U exclusive.

18:02: Note that these are demos, not actual games.

18:02: Others include Find Me, playable with both the new Wii U controller and standard Wii remote, providing different viewpoints.

18:01: Another tech demo is New Super Mario Bros. Mii. Miis will play alongside Mario and company. Gameplay will be shown on both screens.

17:59: One of the demos is a hawk flying through a park filled with blossom trees. It picks up a flower and then drops it into a lake, and several fish jump out. Assuming this is in-game footage, it looks amazing.

17:58: Reggie comes on stage. He says that "eight different interactive experiences" will be playable on the E3 show floor.

17:51: Back to Iwata for details. It has a 6.2 inch screen, while the console will be compatible with current Wii controllers.

17:49: It also has cameras for video chat. What looks like videos can be shared from one to the other. In games, it can be used as an inventory screen. It's out 2012.

17:48: It can also be used with motion-control, pointing the screen at Wii Sports with a baseball view, and later, hunting down Miis hidden in an apartment. Wii Fit is shown, using the device without the need for a TV.

17:47: Footage is shown. It shows Mario being played on screen. A father comes in and asks to watch baseball - play continues on the controller. Also shown is drawing and board games using the touch-screen.

17:46: Now shown is the Wii U controller. It has a screen, thumbsticks, D-Pad and buttons. The rumors are true!

17:38: It's an entirely new game and will feature several new mansions. No release schedule is given.

17:37: Finally, Luigi's Mansion 2 is shown. It looks very similar to the GameCube original - Luigi strolls around a haunted house, hoovering up ghosts.

17:36: It has three on three multiplayer. Augmented Reality cards can also be used to conduct battles. It's out later this year.

17:35: Fourth up is Kid Icarus: Uprising, shown through a trailer. Newly announced is multiplayer - players can choose their own weapons, such as swords or guns.

17:34: It's out before the end of the year.

17:32: Now for Super Mario 3D, it's the first full 3D Mario game created for a handheld. There are card-board Goombas, Raccon suit Mario, Pirate ships, Super Mario Galaxy style block-spinning sections, a giant piano, cogs and more. Looks seriously great.

17:31:Star Fox 3D is introduced by Reggie. It'll have standard buttons and motion controls, and there'll be four-player multiplayer. It'll also be recording the player as they play to capture their reactions. It's out September in the US.

17:30: This "entirely new" Mario Kart will be out later this year.

17:29:Mario Kart will have several new features - gliding, underwater racing, and car customisation. Courses shown all appear brand new to the series.

17:29: Nintendo America president Reggie Fils-Aime comes on stage. The five games just shown will be playable on the show floor, and we're going to take a closer look at all of them now.

17:27: Spoke too soon - fan-favorite Luigi's Mansion is coming to Nintendo 3DS. No details, but the crowd are pleased to see it.

17:23: Don't worry, though, the reveal is coming a little later. The audience, on tenterhooks, nervously laughs. The system will appeal to all gamers, and it's out next year.

17:22: Nintendo has done core consoles and casual consoles, but nothing for both audience. How can they do that? "Deeper and wider" approaches, apparently.

17:22: Nintendo global president Satoru Iwata walks onto the stage. He discusses how we've changed playing games in recent years.

17:21: Shigeru Miyamoto leaves the stage. That might be it for Zelda today, then.

17:19: An audio CD of Zelda: Ocarina of Time will be available to Club Nintendo members who register the game early when it releases next week. Another soundtrack will be coming to Skyward Sword later this year, too. They're blasting out these announcements, aren't they?

17:17: Nintendo will host symphony concerts for the Zelda series in North America, Europe and Japan later this year. Dates for these will be announced tomorrow.

17:17: One more: Zelda: Skyward Sword is coming out on Wii this holiday season. 2011 confirmed.

17:16: In September, a free version of Zelda: Four Swords will be available on Nintendo DSi. Awesome.

17:15: Zelda: Link's Awakening will be the first Game Boy Color title on the 3DS Virtual Console. It will be available worldwide later today.

17:13: He's now getting the orchestra to perform sound effects from the series live. Pretty cool.

17:12: Miyamoto says music plays a big part in the series, from solving puzzles to opening chests, and that most entries feature a playable instrument.

17:10: Series creator Shigeru Miyamoto is welcomed on stage. He briefly says hello in English before employing the help of a translator. It's Zelda's 25th anniversary this year. He's discussing the theme to Skyward Sword - Miyamoto hears it at work everyday.

17:09: Now for what we can assume is Zelda: Skyward Sword - Link and a girl are flying on dragons, but she's knocked off. Dungeons on roofs and melee battles follow. It's looking good.

17:08: The montage is now focused on Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, which is launching on 3DS in North America and Europe next week.

17:06: We're starting! And wow, Nintendo has an actual live orchestra here. On screen is a montage video of Zelda titles, with the orchestra playing the series theme tune.

17:02: Hello! After four timely conferences yesterday, this one is running slightly behind schedule.

16:31: In the meantime, you can catch up on other announcements with our E3 2011 Day One Round-Up, and discuss what you think Nintendo has planned below!

16:30: Welcome to the live blog for Nintendo's E3 2011 conference. This is the big one; expect the first details and footage of its new home console and successor to the Wii, as well as the future for the 3DS. You can also expect plenty of The Legend of Zelda announcements with the 25th anniversary looming later this year. We'll find out in 30 minutes' time at 5pm BST / 2pm EST / 9am PST.